Exercise Machine

ABSTRACT

A portable lightweight exercise device that utilizes elastomeric bands, such as resistance bands, and pulleys to provide a multitude of exercises that target the glutes, thighs, and calf muscles of the legs.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a portable, safe, easy and effective device for exercising. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a portable lightweight exercise device that utilizes elastomeric bands, such as resistance bands, and pulleys to provide a multitude of exercises that target the glutes, thighs, and calf muscles of the legs.

BACKGROUND

A large number of exercise devices utilizing elastomeric bands have been disclosed. However, the majority of these devices are full body exercise devices that require a substantial area to use and set up. As such, movement of these devices is convenient or impossible. Some of the prior art disclosures of similar exercise devices are as follows.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,835 issued Apr. 1, 1980 to Robert S. Hinds et al. discloses an elastic cable exerciser bar. The fixed anchor point is provided by a foot engaging loop. U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,708 issued Apr. 27, 1982 to Robert S. Hinds describes a method of using the above elastic cable exerciser bar. Pretensioning of the elastic cables to provide more resistance is accomplished by winding the cable around a bar.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,256,015 issued Jun. 14, 1966 to William E. Perrin discloses an elastic strap exerciser having a shoe holster and an anchor which wedges beneath an existing door. U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,805 issued Sep. 16, 1986 to Irving H. Franklin et al discloses an elastic cord exercise device wherein multiple straps may be connected to hand grips and anchored to a door mounted support bracket. U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,023 issued Feb. 11, 1969 to Ira J. Silberman discloses an elastic cord exercise device which has a hand grip designed to easily accommodate multiple cords.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,548 issued Apr. 20, 1982 to Silvio D. Piccini disclose shows a kick exercise device which includes a foot holster and is anchored to a post. French Patent No. 2,403,088 issued May 18, 1979 to Charles Dehan shows an elastic exercise device with two hand grips and two door hooks. The hooks and grips do not provide for attachment of multiple straps as does my invention.

SUMMARY

The exercise device of the present disclosure is a portable lightweight exercise device that targets the glutes, thighs and calf muscles of the legs. Utilizing resistance bands that are guided through and around roller guides, each targeted muscle can be specifically contracted for optimum results. This multi-directional resistance is provided to the user on a piece of equipment that has a very small footprint. This allows the user to conveniently perform exercises anywhere they desire. The improvement provided by the present disclosure allows a user to perform exercises that typically would require expensive and space consuming equipment at home in a small area.

The exercise device disclose herein allows the user to perform multiple exercises that includes roller guides that present the desired resistance in the correct location in order to help maximize the contraction of the targeted muscle. The use of the platform in the exercise device of the present disclosure is advantageous in that the device does not need to be anchored for use in any other way.

In accordance with the forgoing, the present disclosure provides an exercise device that may be quickly assembled and disassembled as well as easily transported from one location to another. The exercise device of the present disclosure also provides a portable device which capable of optimally targeting multiple muscle groups in the legs of the users thereof. Further, the exercise device of the present disclosure provides a portable exercise device capable of providing adjustable resistance to motion for various strength users or various types of exercise.

In accordance with other aspects of the disclosure, the exercise device utilizes elastic bands which provide a generally linear resistive force from a plurality of directions to properly isolate desired muscle groups. Still further, the present disclosure provides an inexpensive, dependable exercise device that is effective in accomplishing the aforementioned results.

Other objects, features and advantages of the disclosure will become readily apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded perspective view of an exercise device in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a right side perspective view of the exercise device of FIG. 1 showing an elastomeric band and adjustable cuff;

FIG. 3 is a left side perspective view of the exercise device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the exercise device of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the exercise device of FIG. 2 showing detailed view of storage features associated therewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing the invention in detail as set forth in exemplary form in the disclosure, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is exemplified in multiple embodiments and capable of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation.

FIG. 1 shows a partially-exploded perspective detail view of the exercise device 10 of the present disclosure comprised of a base 20 having two foot pads 30 thereon. The base 20 may include a vertically extending roller mount 40 mounted centrally thereon. A horizontally extending dual roller mount 50 may be mounted on a rear portion of the base 20. Each roller mount 40, 50 may include axles 60 mounted thereto shaped and sized to rotatably receive bearings 70 for rotatably mounting rollers 80, 90 thereto. Rollers 80, 90 may be provided with flanges 85, 95 for helping to maintain elastomeric band 105 contact (see FIGS. 2-4) with the rollers 80, 90 Caps 100 may be provided for the rollers 80, 90 for releasably and rotatably securing the rollers 80, 90 over the bearings 70 to the axles 60. One method for rotatably securing the rollers 80, 90 to the axles 60 as disclosed herein may include providing threads (not shown) on the inside of the axles 60 to mate with corresponding threads 110 provided on a base portion of the caps 100.

The base 10 may include handle mount 120 for releasably mounting a handle assembly 130 thereto. Handle assembly 130 may be comprised of a lower handle tube 140, an upper handle tube 150, and a handle 160 of any shape or size as desired for the user to easily grip and hold onto during exercising. In the embodiment shown herein, the handle 160 may be releasably attached to the upper handle tube 150 by a spring clip 170 as is known in the art (or any other well-known releasable attachment devices such as a clevis pin, etc.) In an embodiment consistent with the disclosure, the upper handle tube 150 may be telescopically received in the lower handle tube 140 and may be height adjustable through the use of multiple adjustment holes 180 which may be secured in a conventional manner such as by using a spring biased detent mechanism 190. Consistent with the foregoing, the lower handle tube 140 may be releasably received by the handle mount 120. Once again, a spring biased spring or clip may be operated by a push button 200 to allow the lower handle tube 140 to be easily removed from the handle mount 120.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle mount 120 may include an attachment mechanism 210 (such as a metal or plastic loop) for attaching a carabiner 220 thereto, the carabiner (or the like) being attached to an elastomeric band 105. The elastomeric band 105 may include a user interface 230 allowing a user to attach or otherwise grasp the band 105. The user interface 230 may comprise a cuff or handle, and, if a cuff may include a velcro closure 240 in a manner as is known in the art. In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the elastomeric band 105 may be sized and shaped such that a user standing on the base 20 may thread the band 105 around roller 80 and rollers 90 and attach the interface 230 to an ankle or calf in order to perform the exercises isolating the desired muscle groups.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the exercise device of the present invention may be easily disassembled and may include features for self-contained storage. Specifically, the underside of the base 20 may be provided with negative relief structures for releasably receiving portions of the handle assembly 130. More specifically, the underside of the base 20 may include relief portions shaped and sized to receive each of the handle assembly 130 components, namely the lower handle tube storage 250, the upper handle tube storage 260, and the handle 270.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed apparatus and method. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain functions is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those functions, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. 

I claim:
 1. An exercise apparatus comprising: a base having at least a first roller mount thereon and a first roller rotatably mounted thereto, said first roller mounted on the first roller mount such that the axis of rotation of the first roller is generally perpendicular to said base; and a mount operably connected to said base for attaching an elastomeric band thereto and an elastomeric band, the elastomeric band including at least one user interface attached thereto and mounted such that, in use, the elastomeric band may be routed around said first roller.
 2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a handle assembly mounted generally perpendicular to said base, said handle assembly including at least one handle thereon.
 3. The exercise apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a second roller mount mounted to said base, having at least a second roller rotatably mounted thereto, said second roller mounted on said second roller mount such than an axis of rotation of the second roller is generally parallel to said base.
 4. The exercise apparatus of claim 2 wherein said handle assembly is releasably mounted to said base through a handle mount.
 5. The exercise apparatus of claim 4 wherein said handle assembly includes a separate upper tube, lower tube, and handle.
 6. The exercise apparatus of claim 5 wherein said base includes an underside having negative release structures for releasably receiving said upper tube, lower tube, and handle
 7. The exercise apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a third roller rotatably mounted to said second roller mount, said third roller mounted on said second roller mount such than an axis of rotation of the second roller is generally parallel to said base generally opposite two said second roller.
 8. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first roller includes flanges thereon.
 9. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein said user interface comprises a releasable cuff.
 10. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first roller is rotatably mounted on said first mount on a bearing.
 11. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second roller and third rollers are rotatably mounted on said second mount on a bearing.
 12. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base includes an upper surface having at least one foot pad thereon.
 13. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric band is releasably attached to said base via a carabiner.
 14. An exercise apparatus comprising a a base having at least a first roller mount thereon and a first roller rotatably mounted thereto, said first roller mounted on the first roller mount such that the axis of rotation of the first roller is generally perpendicular to said base; a second roller mount mounted on said base having a second roller and third roller rotatably mounted thereto, said second roller and third roller mounted on said second roller mount such than an axis of rotation of the second roller and third roller is generally parallel to said base; and a mount operably connected to said base for attaching an elastomeric band thereto and an elastomeric band, the elastomeric band including at least one user interface attached thereto and the elastomeric band mounted such that, in use, the elastomeric band may be routed around said first roller and second roller or third roller.
 15. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a handle assembly mounted generally perpendicular to said base, said handle assembly including at least one handle thereon.
 16. The exercise apparatus of claim 15 wherein said handle assembly is releasably mounted to said base through a handle mount.
 17. The exercise apparatus of claim 16 wherein said base includes an underside having negative release structures shaped to receive portions of said handle assembly.
 18. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first roller, second roller, and third roller include flanges thereon.
 19. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 wherein said base includes an upper surface having at least one foot pad thereon.
 20. An exercise apparatus comprising a a base having at least a first roller mount thereon and a first roller rotatably mounted thereto, said first roller mounted on the first roller mount such that the axis of rotation of the first roller is generally perpendicular to said base; a second roller mount mounted on said base having a second roller and third roller rotatably mounted thereto, said second roller and third roller mounted on said second roller mount such than an axis of rotation of the second roller and third roller is generally parallel to said base; a mount operably connected to said base for attaching an elastomeric band thereto and an elastomeric band, the elastomeric band including at least one user interface attached thereto and the elastomeric band mounted such that, in use, the elastomeric band may be routed around said first roller and second roller or third roller; and a handle assembly mounted generally perpendicular to said base, said handle assembly including at least one handle thereon. 